Tigers for Tomorrow

Tigers for Tomorrow on Untamed Mountain meets the high standards of feline care and facility management that are hallmarks of the Feline Conservation Federation facility accreditation. The 140-acre preserve in Attalla, Alabama, is nestled in the Appalachian Mountains. Visitors come from neighboring big cities of Birmingham, Nashville and Chattanooga to see this beautiful, peaceful assembly of some of nature's crowning creations, the apex predators. In the six years since Tigers for Tomorrow located to Alabama, the animal population has grown to 87 predators consisting of 30 tigers, eight lions, 13 cougars, 19 wolves, two serval, a Canada lynx and a Siberian lynx, two leopard, one bobcat, four black bears and one grizzly bear. Presently a 10-foot perimeter fence suitable to hold predators encloses 18 acres. If more animals come to the mountain preserve, Sue Steffens, the preserve's founder, says the perimeter fences will need to be expanded. To run the facility, Sue and her husband Wilbur McCauley work full time, along with four other full time keepers, one to two interns, and ten volunteers in a core group and about ten more who help with functions and special projects. Tigers for Tomorrow enclosures are built using nine-gauge chain link, even for the smaller cats. The smallest cat enclosure is 1000 sq feet; the largest is 7500 sq feet, and the wolf pack runs inside an acre enclosure. All of the large open topped enclosures are ten foot high and have a 3-foot, nine-gauge, 45-degree kick back, and an associated lock down area that is roofed. Tigers for Tomorrow is licensed as an exhibitor by both USDA and Alabama state wildlife department.